South African-registered Toyota Quantum explodes in Zimbabwe, killing 18

Zimbabwe

Harare – A minibus burst into flames on a highway in southern Zimbabwe on Thursday, killing at least 18 people, police said.

The incident is one of the deadliest in recent months in the country where roads riddled with potholes from years of neglect are a major killer.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said authorities were still gathering details.

Images shared online showed the minibus reduced to a charred shell along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road, a key highway linking the country to South Africa.

For everyday transport, many Zimbabweans rely on the privately-run minibus taxis, known locally as kombi, but they are often criticised for overloading and poor driving.

Abuse of regulations has also seen some unroadworthy vehicles carrying passengers.

Earlier this month, a woman and her five children were killed when her vehicle collided with a haulage truck along another highway linking Zimbabwe and South Africa.

In 2018, at least 42 passengers were killed after a suspected gas cylinder exploded on a bus.

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